Liberal Democrats were accused of putting party ahead of country after another
senior minister declared that he was prepared to abstain on the tuition fees
vote despite supporting the policy.

Danny Alexander, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, became the latest Lib Dem Cabinet minister to suggest that he would abide by a decision taken by a gathering of the party’s MPs ahead of the vote on the Government’s plans to cut higher education funding.

He told his local newspaper: “Clearly there is a discussion going on within the Liberal Democrats on what is the right collective view to take on that, and I will certainly be willing to go along with that collective view if that's what transpires.”

Mr Alexander’s words echoed those of Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrat Business Secretary, who has said that he could abstain despite being responsible for drawing up the scheme to increase fees to as much £9,000.

Many back bench Lib Dems have vowed to vote against the plans after coming under pressure from student protesters who are furious with the party for breaking a pre-election pledge to vote against any rise tuition fee.

Nick Clegg, the party leader and Deputy Prime Minister, is also thought to be considering sitting out the vote, which is expected before Christmas, amid fears that the party could split over the issue.

The leadership is weighing up whether the party could be kept together under a deal which would see Liberal Democrat ministers abstain, despite most supporting the scheme, in return for back benchers agreeing not to rebel.

Critics have suggested that the constitutional principle of collective ministerial responsibility would be stretched to breaking point if Lib Dem Cabinet ministers voted against a major piece of Government legislation.

The position of Mr Cable is particularly difficult as he has ministerial responsibility for universities – it would be unheard for a Cabinet minister not to vote in support of a policy he drew up.

Labour accused the Liberal Democrats of putting the interests of their party ahead of those of the country.

John Denham, the shadow business secretary, said: "Right across the country, there are parents and future students who are desperately worried about the cost of going into higher education.

"All that Clegg, Cable and now Alexander are worried about is saving face for the Liberal Democrats."

Gareth Thomas, the shadow universities minister, added: “The Lib Dems are clearly in chaos over tuition fees. Instead of putting their party interests ahead of those of the nation, they should think about the interests of students and their families.

“They need to vote with their conscience. If they believe in the policy but abstain anyway, it would be an outrage.”

A leading Liberal Democrat peer urged the party’s MPs to “bite the bullet” and rally behind the tuition fees increase.

Lord Willis, who was the party’s spokesman on higher education before the election, called on Mr Cable to “reconsider” his offer to abstain.

He said: “The reality is that we either bite the bullet and believe that the ... proposals ... are the ones to take us forward in terms of higher education or we don't.

"They do take us forward and it is time the Liberal Democrats now simply got on board and said 'Well, let us back them, let us sell them'. I would like Nick to say that and I would also like Vince to say that.”

Students are planning further protests over the coming weeks following the three demonstrations last month which saw outbreaks of violence and a number of arrests. A mass day of action will be held on the day of the vote.

During Prime Minister’s Question Time, David Cameron refused to criticise the Lib Dems in his Government for considering abstaining, instead urging MPs to start "looking at the substance of this issue rather than the process".

"This is a policy to make sure we have got a strong university sector in this country," he said.